By: Patty Burke, a Marvelous Mouse Travels agent
Finding the perfect vacation spot when you have a family that includes kids can be a challenge! Do you have little ones who need constant supervision, which means no break for the parents? Or do you have teens who are too cool, for well, anything? Or maybe the toughest challenge – a range of multiple ages and it’s difficult to find a place that keeps everyone entertained? No need to look any further because Beaches resorts have something for all ages – yes even the tough-to-please teenager.
Beaches Ocho Rios is one of the 3 locations that Beaches currently offers. Located on 22 acres of tropical gardens, with a beautiful white-sand beach and gorgeous blue water, this resort is home to a plethora of family-friendly activities.
If you vacation at a Caribbean resort, most likely you will want to partake in some water-based activities! Beaches Ocho Rios boasts enough options to keep you water-logged until your heart’s content.
One of the best inclusions that Beaches offers is Scuba dives if you are a certified diver. You can dive up to twice a day! If you are not a certified diver and you’d like to give it a try, Beaches does offer an on-resort course (at additional cost), which once completed, allows you to dive once a day for the rest of your stay. Beaches Ocho Rios has 14 dive sites where you can see an array of marine life.
If scuba diving is a little much for you – no worries! Beaches also offers snorkeling and SNUBA! Take a short ride out to a reef to enjoy floating on top of the water to see pufferfish, turtles, and many other different schools of fish. SNUBA is an additional cost but is a unique way to view what is under the water.
One of the most popular spots on the resort would have to be the Pirates Island Water Park, which is included as a part of your stay. This is located on a 27,000 sq ft. area and includes 11 waterslides – the most in the Caribbean! There is also a Treasure Isle aqua play area with water cannons and a treasure chest. Even the littlest ones can enjoy this area with a kid’s zone and a zero-entry kiddie pool that features a squirting sea turtle, a misting crab, and a splashing sea horse. There is also a Water Crawl Cargo Net Aqua-Play structure to keep the kids occupied while parents can relax and enjoy a drink.
If you prefer to stay above the water for your water activities, Beaches has plenty for you as well! You can enjoy the sun and water while using the Hobie Cats, Kayaks, Paddle Boards or Wind Surfing. Or, you can be taken for an exhilarating ride on a banana boat or get underwater vision on a glass bottom boat ride – all included with your stay!
The sports don’t stay in the water, however! Beaches Ocho Rios also offers an array of land sports also included in your stay! Grab some friends for a friendly game of basketball, table tennis, shuffleboard, pool, croquet or tennis on one of their 4 courts (2 of which are lit).
If you can’t imagine a vacation that doesn’t include golf – Beaches Ocho Rios has you covered! It is just a short shuttle ride to the nearby Ocho Rios Golf Country Club. The Greens Fees for this challenging 18-hole, 71 par course are included in your stay as well! (Caddies are not included but are mandatory for an extra fee.)
The littlest kids can often get “left behind” when it comes to activities – but not at Beaches Ocho Rios! They offer an Infant program (ages 0-2) and a Toddler Program (ages 3-4), both have Certified Nannies keeping them occupied and safe. They also offer a Navigator’s Program (ages 5-7) and an Adventurer’s Program (ages 8-10) for those who are a little more independent but still with a lot of energy and excitement. From age-appropriate activities like Beach Science and talent shows to Scavenger hunts and reggae jam sessions, there is always fun activities to keep them engaged. The older kids can also enjoy spending time with peers in the Tweens Program (ages 11-14) where they can enjoy dive-in movies and karaoke or Teen Program (ages 15-17), where they have their own spaces, their own “nightclub”, and can participate in group water sports and other activities.
Inclusion is important at Beaches resorts and all kids camp team members are trained on how to cater to all kids’ needs, including those with autism and other special needs. You can request a one-on-one Beaches Buddy to be with your child for either your entire stay or just a few hours (for an additional fee). This can be during Kids Camp hours or after hours in a sensory-friendly location of your choice.
Guests of all ages can take a break and hang out in the Xbox lounge to enjoy a little time playing some video games.
Beaches Resorts are the only resorts in the Caribbean with an exclusive partnership with Sesame Street. Kids can interact with the lovable characters everyday – at Camp Sesame, where they can participate in activities like Baking with Cookie Monster or during the Sesame Street parade or stage shows. You can take it one step further and (for an additional fee) enjoy a character breakfast, set up a photo session or schedule a nighttime tuck in.
So, as you can see, there is always something for EVERYONE to do at Beaches Ocho Rios resort no matter your age! The best part is that so much is included as a part of your stay, which makes it an amazing value!
Please reach out to Marvelous Mouse Travels to be connected to a travel agent for more information or a quote!
